Eve of Destruction

Live from Genosha, Trish Tilby reports on the situation developing there. After the recent cure to the Legacy Virus was released, curing thousands of dying on Genosha, Magneto has mobilized his massive army at the heart of the island; Magda Square. While S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers discuss their strategies, Joanna Cargill addresses the United Nations as Genosha’s ambassador and demands that the sovereign nations of the world surrender to Magneto, if they wish to have any autonomy after he ascends to ruler of the world. Trish interviews Magneto, who tells the world that he is tired of the hypocrisy of humanity and claims that, the only way for the world to survive, is for humanity to be removed. He may not have started the war but he will end it. Magneto leaves to procure a rallying symbol for his troops, which ends up being his old friend and foe, Professor Charles Xavier. Magneto kidnaps Xavier from his mansion and, the next morning, binds the man to a cross in the middle of Magda Square.

With only three active X-Men left, the team splits up. Wolverine and Cyclops secretly enter Genosha through the underground sewers to help human refugees escape until Phoenix arrives with the cavalry. With most of the team missing, Phoenix sets out to assemble an all-new team of X-Men. First, she frees Cargill from her captives at the Pentagon, who brought her in after her speech. She refuses to help, which forces Phoenix to mind-control the woman. Next, Phoenix tracks down Northstar, who at first is reluctant to join. After that, Phoenix locates two new mutants, Wraith and Paulie Provenzano, who possess the powers of invisibility and indestructibility. At the mansion, Phoenix meets Sunpyre, the sister of Sunfire, who responds to Jean’s call to the disinterested Sunfire. Phoenix debriefs her team and surprises Northstar when she reveals that they are leaving immediately with no training. As they are about to leave, however, former X-Man Dazzler arrives in bad shape at the mansion.

In Genosha, Amelia Voght watches Magneto give a speech to his army. Amelia doesn’t want war and realizes she must make a choice. After the speech, Magneto blames Xavier for the war that is about to happen, for Xavier could have used his telepathy to change the minds of the humans. Magneto leaves to prepare for the war tomorrow, unaware that Amelia Voght was spying on him the whole time.

In the sewers, Cyclops and Wolverine aid Polaris in helping human refugees to Wakanda. The two men clear a path through the sewers to the rendezvous point, encountering the Blob and Random along the way. Wolverine, however, is concerned that Cyclops may not be trustworthy after his separation from Apocalypse. Cyclops dismisses Wolverine’s worries and the two men finish clearing the tunnels after an encounter with the Homo Sapiens Liberation Army.

Using the Blackbird, Phoenix’s team heads to Genosha. During the flight, Phoenix brings the team into a psychic Danger Room training session into Dazzler’s mind, where they learn that the Mojoverse has been destroyed and her husband Longshot may be dead. Before Dazzler can be further questioned about it, Magneto rips apart the Blackbird and brings the X-Men to Magda Square. Dazzler sees Xavier on the cross and, in anger lashes out against Magneto, who turns the woman’s powers against her and kills her.

Phoenix’s team fights against Magneto, but they are all taken down one by one until only Phoenix and Wraith are left standing. Wraith uses his powers to turn Magneto’s skin temporarily invisible. Magneto is disoriented, giving Cyclops and Wolverine time to arrive on the scene. Cyclops attacks Magneto, but is eventually defeated by the man. Wolverine is about to finish the job, but Magneto uses his powers to stop him and is about to rip out his adamantium once again when he discovers that something is preventing him. Magneto then discovers parts of the battle were faked, telepathic scenarios played out by Jean. After Dazzler’s “death,” she created a holographic image of Xavier around herself, taking his place on the cross, while the real Xavier was freed by Amelia Voght – the rest of the team providing the necessary distraction. The professor uses his telepathy to stop Magneto’s attack. Wolverine decides that its time to stop Magneto’s madness for good and stabs him in the stomach, critically wounding him.

Xavier gives a speech to the people of Genosha, telling them that they are now free and must choose whether they truly want a war, which would kill them all, or if they would rather live in peace. The team returns home, where all of the interim X-Men decline invitations to join the team on a permanent basis.